How to get the best advice for growing your business

Tuesday 23rd April 2019

Anyone who has experience of running their own business will know just how difficult it can be.

From making sales to cutting costs to looking after tax and other legal responsibilities, there are numerous challenges that the average company owner will face every single day.

It’s, therefore, hugely important to get support and advice from as many sources as possible. If you’re not sure how to go about this, here are some good ways to make a start…

Go to industry events
Dedicated trade shows and events for your industry are the perfect opportunity to meet people who can provide valuable tips and insights that you might not have thought of yourself.

Take every opportunity to network and build your list of contacts. You might meet other entrepreneurs and start-up owners who can relate to your situation, or seasoned members of the business community who have a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw from.

Speak to people who have been there and done it
There is nothing more useful for a businessperson than getting pointers from someone who was once in exactly the same position as you.

If you have a friend, family member or acquaintance who runs their own company, or has done so in the past, it’s worth asking them if they have any pearls of wisdom they are willing to share, or even any contacts whose details they could share with you.

Contact business bodies
Fortunately for modern-day entrepreneurs and small business owners in the UK, the country offers an extensive and highly supportive environment for start-ups. There are numerous networks, groups and organisations dedicated to helping smaller firms, such as the National Enterprise Network, the New Entrepreneurs Foundation and the Federation of Small Businesses.

Depending on the nature of your business, you could also find there are dedicated trade bodies offering valuable advice and support, such as the British Independent Retailers Association and the Federation of Master Builders.

Consult with your colleagues
If you are struggling to find a solution to a particularly difficult problem, it could be that the support you need is right next to you every day.

Your colleagues are arguably better-placed than anyone to empathise with your day-to-day challenges, since they are familiar with your business and its unique characteristics. Asking the people you work with for their thoughts and advice could deliver the fresh insights you need to get around the problem.